NEET 2020: Preparation Tips & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Under Graduate (often abbreviated as “NEET-UG” or “NEET) is a medical entrance examination for students in India who, inter alia,  wants to pursue undergraduate medical education (MD or Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) in a medical college or university approved by Medical Council of India (MCI), the only statutory authority in India responsible for granting accreditation to medical universities and colleges and granting certificate of medical practice to eligible healthcare professionals.

For all the Indian students who want to pursue MD in India/ Abroad, NEET is mandatory. 

As per the recommendations of the NITI Aayog, a policy think tank of the Government of India, Medical Council of India (MCI) is being replaced with National Medical Commission (NMC) by February 08, 2020.

NEET 2019 was held on May 5, 2019. NEET 2020 shall also be held on the first Sunday in the month of May, i.e. May 3, 2020. 

Every year, more than a million students appear for the exam, while only about 50% of the students qualify the exam. Since the competition is getting tough every year, due to the increasing number of students fighting for medical seats in India, a solid and well-planned strategy is the key to not only get through but score high in this competitive medical entrance examination. 

To help you prepare better for NEET 2020 and set for all success, we, in this post on “NEET 2020: Preparation Tips & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs),” will discuss the tips, tricks, and strategies for better NEET preparation. Let’s do it now: 

NEET 2020: Academic Preparation Tips

Understand Exam Pattern

Before putting any other efforts in NEET preparation, go through the previous year question papers of NEET to develop an understanding of the NEET exam pattern. 

If you take the time to browse the previous question papers of NEET and draw your own analysis and understanding of the exam pattern and the type of questions asked in NEET, you can make your NEET preparation a lot easier. 

Focus on Core Material of NEET

Choosing the right study material for NEET is one of the starting yet very important step to qualify this entrance exam. The best way to select the right study material for every subject is to hold a discussion with subject experts in your school or circle. 

If you know students who have qualified NEET in the previous attempts and have secured good marks, ask them about their study plan, how did they study, and books they referred to. Since students who have qualified NEET with soaring marks have already been where you want to be, they are in the best position to give you the best advice. 

Also, while preparing, focus more on the core material in comparison to elaborative material. As per the analysis of the previous NEET questions, about 80% of the questions are asked from the core material. While elaborative material is also important since it helps you better understand the core material and also covers 20% of the NEET questions, core material should be your priority. 

Make Suitable Subject + Time Combinations

Who likes to study one subject for hours? Well, the answer is “nobody.” Once you start studying a subject and study it for an hour or two, you are bound to get bored. To avoid single-subject fatigue, plan studying different subjects every day in balanced combinations so that when you are bored with one subject, you can pick another and so on.

Also, select the appropriate time slot for each subject. For example, some students like doing math in the morning while others prefer physics. Similarly, some students do math at night, while others prefer studying physics at that time. You should make the combination of time and NEET subjects that works best for you. 

Understand NEET 2020 Syllabus & Make A Written Timetable

All the questions in NEET are asked from your syllabus in the 11th and 12th. That means you study the entire syllabus of NEET 2020 in your school as well. So, if you plan well, there is nothing to be worried about. All you need to do is take care of what you study in XI and XII class and learn how to apply that knowledge to NEET Questions.

Once you understand the NEET syllabus, you can estimate how much time you need to prepare for that and make a timetable accordingly. We recommend that instead of making a rigid schedule, prepare a flexible timetable that can adjust with unforeseen circumstances. 

Also, the preparation of some NEET subjects can take more time than you initially estimated, and so, you will need to make suitable changes to your NEET timetable. 

Attend NEET Mock Tests

Practice makes you perfect, and what’s the better way to practice for NEET than attending NEET Mock Tests. These days, thanks to the internet, lots of free, full-length mock-tests and online NEET test series are available that you can access on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. 

“The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat.”

- Richard Marcinko, Former United States Navy Officer

If you want to prepare better and check weak areas of your NEET preparation, there is no better way than attending a NEET Mock Tests Online. Once you complete a Mock Test, you can check which of your answers are wrong, and then you can go in the details of the right answer so that you don’t repeat the same mistakes in the real exam. 

See, no matter how many mistakes you make in your Mock Tests, the real catch is that the same should not be repeated in your NEET exam. As Richard Marcinko, Former United States Navy Officer, famously said, “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat.” So, prepare well enough for your NEET exam so that there is no room for failure. 

Revise Syllabus and Notes

If you don't revise, you don't remember, and if you don’t remember, all the efforts you put in your studies have gone in vain. Whatever new you learn, you must revise it within 24 hours; else, you are most likely to forget about 80% of what you learned. 

Quick revision within 24 hours takes a few minutes, and it can save you hours by helping you remember better everything new you learn. So, make revision an important element of your NEET preparation plan. 

Do Not Underestimate Self Study 

Now, most of the students prefer coaching classes to learn from the expert faculty members and in the hope of cracking NEET with their best score. Well, there is no doubt that coaching classes help, and if you can, you should join coaching for the subject in which you need support. 

However, what concerns us about some students is that once they enrolled in coaching, they think that they don’t need to study or revise anything at home. Let us tell you that such a careless approach will not ensure anything but a failure. While coaching classes help, they don’t eliminate the need for self-study. Pay full attention in the class, revise the syllabus at home, and clear your queries during/ after each class, on a daily basis. 

Be Consistent

We are sure that you have seen students who start their preparation in the last month, and few in the last week, to clear a competitive exam like NEET! And guess what? This kind of students hope that in one week or one month of preparation, they are going to make it. Well, Best of Luck! This can be the case only of either extraordinary minded students or students who don’t care at all. 

Being consistent from day one goes a long way in helping you prepare as well as remember better. If you are consistent, you don’t need to stress on any day. Your mind stays calm as you know that with every passing day, you are moving one step further in your plan. With a calm mind, whatever you study, it stays better with you. So, be consistent. Start your NEET preparation today with a thoughtful plan and never miss a day unless it is necessary. 

NEET 2020: Non-Academic Preparation Tips

Keep Stress Away

Many students study all year. They read every book in the market. They take all the tests available, and they keep proper notes; still, when the results come out, they seem to get unpredictable results? Why? Well, one of the important reasons for this kind of unexpected result is unnecessary stress. 

See, your duty as a student is to prepare well, appear for the exam with a sound mind, attempt the exam with concentration and see what happens next? Nothing more. Nothing less. 

If you have prepared well, there is no reason to stress at all. While we all feel nervous during exams but don’t let that control your head. If you are feeling stressed, think that all you can do to qualify NEET is preparing better. Do prepare well, and you will feel better. Besides, each of us has our own tactics to burst stress. Follow the tactic that works for you. 

Eating Only Healthy Food

Diet is one of the most ignored factors when it comes to preparing for exams. We often see students eating junk food to save a few minutes to study or just for the sake of good taste! Well, let us tell you that the taste of success is much more delicious than the taste of whatever junk food you like, and giving up the fast food in favor of healthy food will pay you well. 

Healthy food will not only keep your brains and body in good shape but also make sure that you stay away from most of the diseases caused by not-so-good food! So, eat mindfully. That’s a part of your NEET preparation. We recommend that you give up all kinds of fast food at least a month before the day of your NEET exam.

Sleep Well

Active learning needs an active mind. Also, in the examination hall, to properly recall what you prepared and to solve questions at the required speed, your mind needs to be healthy and active. If you are not taking proper sleep before or during the exam, you yourself may be hurting your own success. 

Most students think that by making a cut on sleep, they are saving time for their studies. Unfortunately, what they don’t realize is that with a sleepy mind, they will get very little done, no matter how many hours they put in the process. So, if you want to make the most of every minute you put into your NEET preparation, sleep well. Usually, people of your age need 7-8 hours of sleep. Remember: Proper sleep is as important as proper preparation for success in any exam. 

Exercise Regularly

If you don’t exercise daily, start doing it today. Medical research has found that exercise boosts your memory, helps you think better, and also improves your attention, increasing your capacity to learn. 

Besides intellectual benefits, the physical benefits of exercise are well-known. Just 15-30 minutes of daily exercise can make a huge difference to your physical as well as mental health, which will ultimately help your study. 

NEET 2020: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Based on questions frequently asked by our students who are appearing for NEET 2020, we have prepared a list of NEET FAQs along with up-to-date answers. If your question is not covered in this list, feel free to contact us or ask your NEET questions in the comments below:  

Question: What is the age limit for NEET 2020?

Answer: To qualify for NEET 2020, you must be ay least 17 years of age by December 31, 2020. That means if you are born on/ after December 31, 2003, you are eligible for NEET 2020. 

Question: What's the NEET Score to Get MD Admission in India?

Answer: NEET Score required to get an MD seat in India depends on the NEET cut-off. Due to the percentile system, every year's cut-off is different.

Question: Are 11th & 12th books sufficient for NEET 2020?

Answer: 11th and 12th subject books cover the entire NEET 2020 Syllabus. However, for better practice, you should also read reference books and also attend Mock Tests, etc. 

Question: How many medical seats are there for NEET Qualified?

Answer: There are 70, 978 MD seats spread across 529 medical colleges in India. 

Question: How many questions are repeated in NEET from previous year question papers?

Answer: The exact number is not available. However, on average, 10-15 questions are repeated in some modified version.

Question: Will NEXT replace NEET?

Answer: No. NEXT will not replace NEET. NEXT will replace FMGE. 

Question: Is it true that NEET 2020 will be applicable for AIIMS and JIPMER?

Answer: Yes. That's true. From 2020, MD admissions in AIIMS and JIPMER will also be through NEET.

Question: What will be the difficulty level of NEET 2020?

Answer: Predictably, most difficult so far. Every year, the number of students giving NEET is increasing, and so is the difficulty level. 

Question: What is the maximum number of attempts allowed for NEET?

Answer: There is no restriction on the number of NEET attempts. Prepare well and try to crack NEET in your first attempt. 

Question: Will NEET 2020 be online or offline?

Answer: NEET 2020 will be held offline, in pen and paper mode. Until now, there is no information about the online conduct of NEET. 

Question: Which books are best for NEET 2020?

Answer: 11th & 12th class NCERT books on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology cover the entire syllabus of NEET. You should also study reference material and practice with NEET Mock Tests. 

Question: Will NEET 2020 be conducted twice a year?

Answer: No. NEET 2020 will be conducted only once, on May 3, 2020. 

Question: What is NEET 2020 Exam Date?

Answer: NEET 2020 will be conducted on Sunday, May 3, 2020.

Question: What Are the maximum marks I can score in NEET?

Answer: 720 marks. In the NEET exam, 180 questions are asked, and for each right answer, 4 marks are allotted. 

Question: What are the subjects in NEET?

Answer: Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. Botany and Zoology are collectively called Biology.  

Question: What is the marks weightage of each subject in NEET?

Biology

360 Marks

Physics

180 Marks

Chemistry

180 Marks

Question: Is there any negative marking in NEET?

Answer: Yes. For each wrong answer, one mark is deducted from your total NEET score.

Question: What is the time duration of the NEET Exam?

Answer: 3 Hours.

Question: Are there any marks deducted for un-attempted questions in NEET?

Answer: No. For un-attempted questions in the NEET exam, no marks are allotted or deducted. 

Question: Are NEET 2020 registrations open? What is NEET 2020 Application Form Date?

Answer: Registrations for NEET 2020 are open from December 2, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

Question: Who will conduct NEET 2020?

Answer: NEET 2020 shall be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Question: What is the application form fee for NEET 2020?

Answer: Students from the General/ OBC category need to pay INR 1,400 while students from SC/ ST/ PwD/ Transgender category need to pay INR 750 for NEET 2020 Registration. 

Question: What is the deadline for NEET 2020 Registration?

Answer: December 31, 2019 is the last date to submit your application for NEET 2020 registration. 

Question: Where can I fill the NEET 2020 application?

Answer: NEET 2020 application or registration form shall be available on December 2, 2019 on the website of the National Testing Agency (NTA), and you will be able to fill the application online. 

Question: When will NEET 2020 results be announced?

Answer: NEET 2020 results shall be announced online on June 4, 2020 by the National Testing Agency (NTA). 

Question: When will NEET 2020 Answer Keys be available?

Answer: Predictably, Provisional Answer Keys for NEET 2020 shall be available in the last week of May 2020, while Final Answer Keys for NEET 2020 shall be available in the first week of June 2020.

Question: Where can I download my NEET 2020 Admit Card?

Answer: NEET 2020 Admit Cards shall be available for download on March 27, 2020, on the National Testing Agency (NTA) website ntaneet.nic.in. 

Question: When does NEET 2020 counseling start? 

Answer: NEET 2020 counseling shall be commenced by Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) after the declaration of NEET 2020 results in June 2020. 

Question: What is the medium of NEET 2020?

Answer: Besides English, NEET 2020 will be conducted in regional languages including Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Oriya, and Assamese.

Question: How many students are registered for NEET 2020?

Answer: Predictably, more than 15 lac students will register for NEET 2020. 

If you have any other questions on NEET 2020, feel free to contact us or ask your NEET question in the comments section. 
 

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